FILE - From left are Tom Glavine in 2008, Greg Maddux in 2008, and Frank Thomas in 1994 file photos. Glavine, Maddux and Thomas will appear on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the first time when it is mailed to writers next month. (AP Photo/File)

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Maddux, Glavine, Thomas elected to Hall of Fame

Article by: RONALD BLUM

Associated Press

January 8, 2014 - 4:59 PM

NEW YORK — Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas were elected to baseball's Hall of Fame on Wednesday, while Craig Biggio fell two votes short.

Maddux was picked on 555 of 571 ballots by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. His 97.2 percentage was the eighth-highest in the history of voting.

Glavine, Maddux's longtime teammate in the Atlanta rotation, appeared on 525 ballots and received 91.9 percent. Thomas, the Hall of Famer who spent the majority of his career was a designated hitter, was at 483.

Biggio, in his second appearance, was at 427 votes and 74.8 percent, matching Nellie Fox in 1985 and Pie Traynor in 1947 for the smallest margin to just miss.

Jack Morris, in his 15th and final appearance, fell 78 votes short at 61.5 percent on a crowded ballot.

Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro, who all compiled big numbers but were tainted by the Steroids Era, each saw their vote percentages drop. Clemens drew the most votes among the group at 35.4 percent.

Maddux, Glavine and Thomas will be inducted in Cooperstown on July 27 along with managers Bobby Cox, Joe Torre and Tony La Russa, elected last month by the expansion-era committee.